Device for reduction of soiling of motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

A wheel casing for reducing the self-soiling and the external soiling of motor vehicles so secured that it is able to follow the spring movements and possibly also any steering movements; on the inside of the casing, on each side thereof, is provided a water-collecting groove extending at an inclination from the front downward toward the rear and an apron consisting of elastic, coarse-porous material is arranged at the rear end of the casing, which extends down to a position very close to the road surface.

llnited States Patent [191 Wilfert et a1;

[ 1 DEVICE FOR REDUCTION OF SOILING OF MOTOR VEHICLES [75] Inventors:Karl Wiliert, Gerlingen-Waldstadt;

Hans Gotz, Sindelfingen, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Daimler-BenzAktiengesellschaft,

Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 291,185

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 24, 1971 Ciernianyii..QIIQL NQU P21477503 [52] US. Cl. 280/157, 280/153 A, 280/l54.5 R[51] Int. Cl 1362b 9/16 [58] Field of Search 280/157, 154.5, 153 R,280/152, 153 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,1527/1923 Smith 280/157 [4 1 Jan. 8, 1974 1,613,443 1/1927 DAmato 280/157UX 1,899,937 3/1933 Brown 280/152 2,700,553 l/1955 Ludwig et al. 280/153R 3,198,545 8/1965 McDaniel 280/l54.5 R

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 139,157 10/1934 Austria 280/153 APrimary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Attorney-Paul M. Craig, Jr. et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A wheel casing for reducing the self-soiling and theexternal soiling of motor vehicles so secured that it is able to followthe spring movements and possibly also any steering movements; on theinside of the casing, on each side thereof, is provided awater-collecting groove extending at an inclination from the frontdownward toward the rear and an apron consisting of elastic,coarse-porous material is arranged at the rear end of the casing, whichextends down to a position very close to the road surface.

12 Claims, Drawing Figures 1 DEVICE FOR REDUCTION OF SOILING OF MOTORVEHICLES The present invention relates to a device for reducing theself-soiling and external soiling of motor vehicles whose wheels arecovered off over the largest part of their height with a covering orcasing that is so secured that it follows the spring and possible alsothe steering movements of the wheels.

Heretofore all motor vehicles exhibit during the drive on wet and dirtyroads a turbulent wake or trailing airstream adjoining the rear end andcontaining dirty water, into which the following vehicles practicallyimmerse." The soiling of these vehicles conditioned thereby considerablyreduces the visibility safety. Additionally, the dirty water turbulentlythrown up by a driving vehicle, leads also to a more or less strongsoiling, for example, of the rear lights of the vehicle itself, which inturn may lead to an endangering of the following vehicles.

Cause for the described soiling are on the one hand, dirt particlescentrifuged off by the tires, and on the other, dirt particles sprayedoff in the course of the rotation of the wheel and sucked-off by the airstream.

The present invention is therefore concerned with the task to so collectand conduct away the soiled water centrifuged up by the tires that it nolonger can be seized by the air flow and sprayed off.

As solution to the underlying problems, a device of the type describedabove is proposed in which, according to the present invention, a watercollecting groove extending at an inclination from in front downwardtoward the rear is provided on theinside of each casing on each sidethereof and whereby an apron consisting of elastic, coarse-porousmaterial, such as skeletonfoam, is arranged at the rear portion of eachcasing, which extends up to directly above the road surface.

The casings or coverings are appropriately constructed two-partite andthe separating joints extend respectively in a vertical wheellongitudinal plane.

.The connection of the two parts of each casing can take place by rapidconnecting means of conventional construction in order to enablepossibly a rapid removal or exchange of the casings.

In order to assure an adequate cooling of the brakes of the vehicles,the casings are advantageously provided with air guide channels or ductsfor ventilating the brakes.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upperedge of the casing extends--as viewed from the side-in the rearward areathereof approximately parabolically shaped and the rear edge of theapron is matched to this configuration. This shape and configuration ofthe casing and of the apron permits, for example, a driving overcurbstone edges in any direction and permits a turning-in of the apronalso when driving backwards over obstacles without causing the aprons tothereby abut at the tires and to be damaged or torn off as a resultthereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide adevice for reducing the soiling of motor vehicles which avoids by simplemeans the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in theprior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in a device for reducingthe self-soiling and the externally .in a device for reducing thesoiling of motor vehicles by caused soiling of motor vehicles which issimple in construction, easy to install and simple to service.

A further object of the present invention resides in a device reducingthe soiling of motor vehicles, when driving on wet roads, whichconsiderably increases the road safety by lessening the soiling of therear lights of a motor vehicle as well as the soiling of the windshieldand front lights of the next following vehicle.

A still further object of the present invention resides in a device forreducing the soiling of motor vehicles which so collects the soiledwater and conducts the same away that it no longer can be caught by theair stream in the wake of the vehicle and be sprayed off thereby.

Another object of the present invention resides in a device of theaforementioned type which not only can be easily installed but alsoassures adequately cooling of the brakes.

Still a further object of the present invention resides rain water anddirt particles thrown up by the running wheels which neverthelesspermits a driving over obstacles-without jeopardizing the device.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, forpurposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the front part of a passenger motor vehiclewith a front wheel enclosed in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above and in front of the front wheelaccording to FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are usedthroughout the two views to designate like parts, the front wheel 1illustrated in the drawing of a passenger motor vehicle (not shown) isprovided with a covering or casing generally designated by referencenumeral 2 that consists of two parts 2a and 2b. The separating jointbetween the parts 2a and 2b of the casing 2 extends thereby in avertical wheel longitudinal plane. The connection of the two parts 2aand 2b takes place by way of schematically indicated rapid connectingmeans 3 of conventional construction and therefore not illustrated anddescribed in detail. Within the area of the lower edge of each of thetwo parts 2a and 2b is provided a water-collecting groove 4 extending atan inclination from in front downwardly toward the rear, which catchesthe soiled water turbulently thrown up on the inside of the casing 2 andconducts the same to an apron 5 that is secured at the rear portion ofthe casing 2.

The operation of the apron 5 which consists of an elastic,air-permeable, coarse-porous material of any conventional type such as,for example, of skeltonfoam, is as follows:

The soiled water runs off on the inside of the coarseporous material ofthe apron 5 onto the road surface and is no longer seized by the airstream. The air flow is deflected only insignificantly by the apron 5and flows decelerated through the porous apron 5 without thereby tearingalong small soiled-water particles. Dirt particles securely adhering atthe apron 5 again fall out of the same during vibrations as are causedduring the normal driving operation.

The casing 2 is provided with appropriate air-guide channels 6 to assureadequate ventilation of the wheel brakes (not shown). Furthermore, theupper edge of the casing 2 extends in its rear portion approximatelyparabolically shapedas viewed in side viewand the read edge of the apronis matched to this configuration as can be seen in particular from FIG.1.

In conclusion, it may also be stated that the covering or casing 2 canbe made ofa specific light-weight material and may then have a weight ofthe order of magnitude of about 2 kp. This weight, however, lies withinthe tolerance range of different tire sizes and tire rims ofa vehicletype so that the driving comfort is not influenced. The casing 2 isconnected with the other parts in a conventional manner, known as suchand forming no part of the present invention so that a detaileddescription thereof is dispensed with herein for the sake of brevity.

While we have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, it is understood that the same is not limitedthereto, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications asknown to those skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to belimited to the details shown and described herein but intend to coverall such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A wheel casing means for reducing the self-and external soiling ofmotor vehicles and adapted to overlie and cover the top and majorportions of the sides thereof, said casing means adapted to be securedto the wheel mounting such that it follows the wheel movements includingthe steering movements, the inside of said casing means having awater-collecting groove means being downwardly inclined from front torear, and apron means consisting of an elastic, coarse-porous materialmounted at the rear end of said casing means and extending downwardly toa position just above the road surface.

2. A wheel casing means according to claim 1, characterized in that agroove means is provided on each side of a respective casing means.

3. A wheel casing means according to claim 2, characterized in that theapron means consists of skeletonfoam material.

4. A wheel casing means according to claim 2, characterized in that thecasing means is constructed twopartite and the separating jointtherebetween extends in a vertical wheel longitudinal plane.

5. A wheel casing means according to claim 4, characterized in that bothparts of the casing means are connected with each other by rapidconnecting means.

6. A wheel casing means according to claim 5, characterized in that thecasing means are equipped with air-guide channel means for ventilatingvehicle brakes.

7. A wheel casing means according to claim 6, characterized in that theupper edge of the casing means along its rear portion is approximatelyparabolically shaped and the rear edge of the apron means is acontinuation of said parabolic contour.

8. A wheel casing means according to claim 7, characterized in that theapron means consists of skeletonfoam material.

9. A wheel casing means according to claim 1, characterized in that thecasing means are equipped with air-guide channel means for ventilatingvehicle brakes.

10. A wheel casing means according to claim 1, characterized in that theupper edge of the casing means along its rear portion is approximatelyparabolically shaped and the rear edge of the apron means is acontinuation of said parabolic contour.

11. A wheel casing means according to claim 1, characterized in that thecasing means is constructed twopartite and the separating jointtherebetween extends in a vertical wheel longitudinal plane.

connected with each other by rapid connecting means. k

1. A wheel casing means for reducing the self-and external soiling ofmotor vehicles and adapted to overlie and cover the top and majorportions of the sides thereof, said casing means adapted to be securedto the wheel mounting such that it follows the wheel movements includingthe steering movements, the inside of said casing means having awater-collecting groove means being downwardly inclined from front torear, and apron means consisting of an elastic, coarse-porous materialmounted at the rear end of said casing means and extending downwardly toa position just above the road surface.
 2. A wheel casing meansaccording to claim 1, characterized in that a groove means is providedon each side of a respective casing means.
 3. A wheel casing meansaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the apron means consists ofskeleton-foam material.
 4. A wheel casing means according to claim 2,characterized in that the casing means is constructed two-partite andthe separating joint therebetween extends in a vertical wheellongitudinal plane.
 5. A wheel casing means according to claim 4,characterized in that both parts of the casing means are connected witheach other by rapid connecting means.
 6. A wheel casing means accordingto claim 5, characterized in that the casing means are equipped withair-guide channel means for ventilating vehicle brakes.
 7. A wheelcasing means according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper edgeof the casing means along its rear portion is approximatelyparabolically shaped and the rear edge of the apron means is acontinuation of said parabolic contour.
 8. A wheel casing meansaccording to claim 7, characterized in that the apron means consists ofskeleton-foam material.
 9. A wheel casing means according to claim 1,characterized in that the casing means are equipped with air-guidechannel means for ventilating vehicle brakes.
 10. A wheel casing meansaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the upper edge of the casingmeans along its rear portion is approximately parabolically shaped andthe rear edge of the apron means is a continuation of said paraboliccontour.
 11. A wheel casing means according to claim 1, characterized inthat the casing means is constructed two-partite and the separatingjoint therebetween extends in a vertical wheel longitudinal plane.
 12. Awheel casing means according to claim 11, characterized in that bothparts of the casing means are connected with each other by rapidconnecting means.